Seeding, sprinkling, watering, fertilizing—you’ve tried everything to remedy that trouble spot in your lawn. But the grass just won’t grow there!
There are a few reasons why grass won’t sprout in a specific area of your lawn but don’t fret! With a little creativity, you can spruce up that bare area.
What to Do with Areas of Yard that Won’t Grow Grass
Why won’t my grass grow?
Grass needs ample sunlight, good soil and adequate water to thrive. Even if you water your lawn regularly, another problem could be holding it back.
Grass needs about five or six hours of direct sunlight every day. So, shady spots below your trees or on the side of your home aren’t a good environment for grass growth.
Soil in areas with heavy foot traffic can become compacted, which stunts grass growth.
Sometimes a deeper soil problem lies below the surface. A lack of essential nutrients, like nitrogen or phosphorus, can limit grass growth. Or, excess deicing salts used on nearby sidewalks might be the problem.
If you’d prefer to remedy your grass (rather than give up on it), try to fix these problems.
The easiest solution is to simply mulch the area. Leaves, pine straw or other mulching materials can be applied 4 to 6 inches deep over the areas under a tree where grass no longer grows well.
Grass seldom grows well under trees due to the shade. Most types of grass prefer sunlight, which gets blocked out by the shade casted from tree canopies. As trees grow, the amount of shade increases and eventually the grass beneath begins to die. Grass also competes with trees for moisture and nutrients.
It's common for trees to have shallow roots around the trunk, which makes it difficult for grass to obtain water and nutrients. If grass does manage to get established in this zone, known as the “root flare,” it can actually stunt the tree's growth—or even kill it.
If the area is so shady that even shade-loving plants will not work, mulch or decorative stones may be the only option. On the bright side, you can keep weeds under control and the decaying mulch will benefit the trees growing in the area.
In some cases, especially around trees and shrubs, you can also lay down landscape fabric before mulching. It lets air and water into the soil but blocks weeds from growing. Edging around your mulched beds can also help discourage stray seeds from winding up in your mulch.
You can add a small amount of soil under the tree, and then plant a grass that is shade tolerant. It depends on what the tree is as to how much shade is under it. Walnut trees and bluegrass work well together.
If you have older trees on your property, it's important to regularly prune them back, so their roots do not grow through the lawn. This will help to prevent tree roots from sprouting and damaging your property.
Or you can use fusilade or sethoxydim that won't hurt your trees and will help kill the grass. Spray a 3- to 6- foot circle around the tree and keep it grass-free for the first three to five years of the tree's life. It may take two sprays to kill the grass, which is very competitive for water and nutrients.
This best way to solve the problem is to create a mulch or stone ring around the tree. This acts as a barrier for the trunk and exposed roots of the tree. Mulch and stone are both products that will help keep out any unwanted grass or weeds.
Adding a mulch layer is both the preferred and the easiest option when it comes to dealing with exposed tree roots. Carefully remove the remaining grass around the base of the tree and replace it with a thick layer of mulch.
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Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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